“…The complex astronomical instrument of the second century BC we call "Mechanism of Antikythera", a mechanism which is also a complex astronomical computer, incoroporates the keeping and the usage of various kinds of calendars, a solar and two luni-solar calendars of 19 years, 76 years and 18 years and 54 years, which are based on the phases of the Moon and the luni-solar eclipses, as we have previously described The study of the oldest scientific device and computer has been made me a series of studies by 1903;1908;De Solla, 1955;Price, 1974;Rados, 1905;1910;Rediadis, 1903;Rehm, 1907). Theofanidis (1934) and especially and by (Wright et al, 1995;Wright, 2002;2003;2005a;2005b;2005c;2006a;2006b) and with much better techniques and results by (Freeth et al, 2006;2008;Freeth, 2009;Moussas, 2011, Bromley, 19861990a;1990b;1990c;Devevey et al, 2008;Henriksson, 2009;Moussas et al, 2007;Gourtsoyannis, 2010;Marchant, 2008;Malzbender et al, 2001;Chondros, 2009) that revealed several important aspects of this complex ancient instrument with unexpected results.…”
“…The complex astronomical instrument of the second century BC we call "Mechanism of Antikythera", a mechanism which is also a complex astronomical computer, incoroporates the keeping and the usage of various kinds of calendars, a solar and two luni-solar calendars of 19 years, 76 years and 18 years and 54 years, which are based on the phases of the Moon and the luni-solar eclipses, as we have previously described The study of the oldest scientific device and computer has been made me a series of studies by 1903;1908;De Solla, 1955;Price, 1974;Rados, 1905;1910;Rediadis, 1903;Rehm, 1907). Theofanidis (1934) and especially and by (Wright et al, 1995;Wright, 2002;2003;2005a;2005b;2005c;2006a;2006b) and with much better techniques and results by (Freeth et al, 2006;2008;Freeth, 2009;Moussas, 2011, Bromley, 19861990a;1990b;1990c;Devevey et al, 2008;Henriksson, 2009;Moussas et al, 2007;Gourtsoyannis, 2010;Marchant, 2008;Malzbender et al, 2001;Chondros, 2009) that revealed several important aspects of this complex ancient instrument with unexpected results.…”
“…The third design, shown in Fig. 3, was delivered by Freeth [ 15 , 16 , 19 ] and Freeth et al [ 17 , 18 ] between 2006 and 2008. Their research includes numerous decoding of inscriptions that describe the functions of dials on the exterior and a reasonable explanation for the connection of interior gears.…”
Antikythera mechanism, dateable around to the first century BC, is the oldest known geared mechanism treated as an astronomical computer through the decoding of modern technology. In accordance with the decoded exterior dials and their functions, the interior mechanism was confirmed to consist of five corresponding subsystems. However, some unexplained problems still exist among these subsystems, such as the lunar subsystem, in which the visible pentagonal mark is positioned on the centre of a gear, demonstrating the lunar anomaly motion. From the viewpoint of mechanical design, this strange evidence implies the existence of a shaft with a complex structure, i.e. the coaxial gears with different rates. Also, it affects strongly the identifications of links and even the positions of gears. In order to provide other possible concepts to clarify this problem, this study synthesizes all feasible reconstruction designs through a systematic procedure. Through the study of historical literature, astronomical theories and existing designs, design constraints which are indispensible for the assignments of links and joints are concluded. Then, according to the concepts of generalization and specialization of mechanism, 13 feasible designs which are consistent with the theories and techniques of the subject’s time period, including the one by Freeth et al. are synthesized. Once new discoveries about the unexplained problem appear in the future, these feasible designs can be the corresponding answer.
“…More interesting results came from tomographies by Bromley, Wright and Mangkou (Bromley 1986(Bromley , 1990aWright et al 1995;Wright 2002Wright , 2003Wright , 2005aWright ,b,c, 2006a and more recently by Freeth et al (2006Freeth et al ( , 2008 with a more accurate computer tomography advance even further our understanding of the Mechanism, and that read several parts of the manual of the instrument written in the almost every available surface of the mechanism, hidden in the rust in it since it sunk in the sea during the second century BCE. See Marchant (2009) andFreeth (2009) for an account of the story.…”
Section: What Is the Antikythera Mechanism?mentioning
Abstract. In this review the oldest known advanced astronomical instrument and dedicated analogue computer is presented, in context. The Antikythera Mechanism a mysterious device, assumed to be ahead of its time, probably made around 150 to 100 BCE, has been found in a 1st century BCE shipwreck near the island of Antikythera in a huge ship full of Greek treasures that were on their way to Rome. The Antikythera Mechanism is a clock-like device made of bronze gears, which looks much more advanced than its contemporary technological achievements. It is based on mathematics attributed to the Hipparchus and possibly carries knowledge and tradition that goes back to Archimedes, who according to ancient texts constructed several automata, including astronomical devices, a mechanical planetarium and a celestial sphere. The Antikythera Mechanism probably had a beautiful and expensive box; looking possibly like a very elaborate miniature Greek Temple, perhaps decorated with golden ornaments, of an elegant Hellenistic style, even perhaps with automatic statuettes, 'daemons', functioning as pointers that performed some of its operations. Made out of appropriately tailored trains of gears that enable to perform specialised calculations, the mechanism carries concentric scales and pointers, in one side showing the position of the Sun in the ecliptic and the sky, possibly giving the time, hour of the day or night, like a clock. The position of the Moon and its phase is also shown during the month. On the other side of the Mechanism, having probably the size of a box (main part 32×20×6 cm), are two large spiral scales with two pointers showing the time in two different very long calendars, the first one concerning the eclipses, and lasting 18 years 11 days and 8 hours, the Saros period, repeating the solar and lunar eclipses, and enabling their prediction, and the 19 year cycle of Meton, that is the period the Moon reappears in the same place of the sky, with the same phase. An additional four-year dial shows the year of all Greek Festivities, the so-called 'games' (Olympic, Pythian, Isthmian etc). Two additional dials give the Exeligmos, the 54 year and 34 day cycle, which provides a more accurate prediction of eclipses. It is possible that the Mechanism was also equipped with a planetary show display, as three of the planets and their motion (stationary points) are mentioned many times in the manual of the instrument, so it was also a planetarium. From the manual we have hints that the mechanism was probably also an observational instrument, as having instructions concerning a viewfinder and possibly how to orient the viewfinder to pass a sunbeam through it, probably measuring the altitude of the Sun. There are fragmented sentences that probably give instructions on how to move the pointers to set the position of the Sun, the Moon and the planets in their initial places in the ecliptic, on a specific day, or how to measure angular distances between two celestial bodies or their coordinates. This mechanism is definitely not th...
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